With the league’s most potent attack and badly-struggling defense, the Red Bulls were more than willing to shed some years and money from their midfield in order to get some youth and much-needed bite. They’re hoping Dax McCarty provides both, and he’s hoping for a fresh start on a championship contender.

After a slow start to the year in D.C. _ miscast as a playmaking No. 10, burdened by having to lead a young team and hindered by a groin injury _ McCarty was traded to New York for Dwayne De Rosario. Now McCarty says being able to blend into a star-studded roster will make his job easier, and playing on a possession-oriented team will make his game shine.

“Something Dallas and New York have in common is that the players and the system they play definitely suits my style of play and how I like to play as a player,’’ said McCarty. “I like to be that linking player in middle of the field that can connect the defensive aspect of the game to the attack.

“Obviously in New York, with the tremendous attacking talent they have…Thierry Henry likes to come underneath and find the ball, similar to David Ferreira. It’s easy to work off those guys, they’re such good players they make things easy for me.’’

McCarty spent his entire career in Dallas until being plucked by Portland in this offseason’s expansion draft, playing with Ferreira in the midfield as the latter piled up eight goals and 13 assists to win league MVP honors and the team marched to the MLS Cup final.

But after the Timbers picked up in the expansion draft, they flipped him to D.C. In rebuilding mode, United gave him not only the captain’s armband but the keys to the attack, trying to shoehorn him into an attacking role and make him the team leader. Now, swapping him for an aging five-time all-star, this trade may well benefit both De Rosario and McCarty.

“With a little bit more experience and a (few) more games, I think it would’ve gotten better at the position. But the mentality in this league is to win now. D.C. had a rough year last year and they’re a young team; they wanted a guy with more experience,’’ McCarty said. “But from me there’s no hard feelings whatsoever; I’m very happy to be in New York and looking forward to getting started.’’

That start should come Saturday in San Jose. Even though head coach Hans Backe will miss the game _ out until Monday after minor surgery _ McCarty is set to line up alongside Teemu Taino in a 4-4-2 formation with twin holding midfielders.

“I’ve gotten a crash course in the style they like to play; it suits me very well. They keep the ball very well, from the back, their outside backs, (everybody up to) the forwards, everybody can keep the ball,’’ said McCarty. “That’s definitely the type of player I am, the player I want to be and it suits my style of play.

“Coming to New York, they have the high-profile guys, they have the superstars that _ deservedly _ get all the attention. And also you have a team that’s a very good team,’’ said McCarty. “For me, it’ll be nice to step back and take more of a secondary role, instead of being the first guy to speak up in the locker room.

“I’m comfortable (leading) but at the same time it’ll be good for me to get to learn the guys, integrate into the system, take a step back and learn my role and focus on what I have to do as player, not only to get back to my best level, but also to help this team win. I think I can do that, and we definitely have the players here. I can see from one day of training we have the players to be successful in this league.’’